June 27 
2017

Thank You Ballard Performing Arts Volunteers!
A Virtual Bouquet for All BPA Volunteers!

Thank you to all BPA families who volunteered their time, chaperoned and/or drove students, recorded concerts or shows, put up and took down posters, ushered, took photos, sold tickets flowers or kudos, handed out programs, donated baked goods, auction items or money, attended meetings, proofread newsletters, served spaghetti, held board positions and last but not least, cleaned up after every event! Thanks to your support, our four fabulous directors: Michael James, Courtney Rowley, Shawn Riley and Brittany Newell, 16 performing groups and 450+ students had an unforgettable year.

A Special Thank You to Mara Lim, Outgoing BPA President

We, the BPA Board, thank you for your unwavering commitment to Ballard Performing Arts. We appreciate your time, your talent and your ability to wrangle a large group of busy parents into an effective organization capable of growing and transitioning from year to year without skipping a beat!  We wish you a well-earned, relaxing summer vacation.


Congratulations Class of 2017
We Wish You the Best!

To the Ballard Performing Arts Members of the Class of 2017:  Those last notes sung by Advanced Chorale and Concert Choir and played by The Wind Ensemble were beautiful and bittersweet. During your years as members of Ballard Performing Arts, you performed on stages and in venues locally and throughout the nation serving as wonderful ambassadors of Ballard High School. Whether you played, sang, acted, and/or provided technical support, your Ballard High School Family thanks you for your commitment to the performing arts and wishes you well on your next journey.  Congratulations and keep in touch!

Memorial Stadium: June 19th - Ballard High School Class of 2017

And Now... Back to Business!
All Returning Students See Information Below Re:  Camp and 2017-2018 Trips 

Fall Band, Choir and Orchestra Camps
All Camp Paperwork and Fees are due on July 1st

Band Camp,  September 8 - 10
Choir Camp, September 15 - 17
Orchestra Camp, September 29 - October 1
 
Paperwork is on the BPA Website and was also sent home with students last week.
 
Camp Fee payment may be made by:
 
Check: made out to BPA and mail paperwork and check to:
BPA, PO Box 17774, Seattle, WA  98127
 
Chaperones Needed!
Chaperones attend for no cost and are needed for all camps. If you are interested, contact the representative for your student's group:
 
Band Rep            Jen Witeck                  
Choir Rep            Page Harader               
Orchestra Rep     Sylvia Schweinberger    


Chamber Orchestra to NYC  - Deposit Due!
Make Your Deposit Today!

New and returning Chamber Orchestra members - Congratulations and keep reading!

Chamber Orchestra is going to New York City next March 1-4, to compete in the National Orchestra Cup! They will perform in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, the performance venue of the New York Philharmonic on Saturday, March 3rd. 

In order to reserve competitive airfare, and our spot in the competition, we are asking for a deposit of $500, due by July 1st 2017. Make your online payment here  . 

The trip, is estimated to cost approximately $1,800 per student. The Ballard Performing Arts Boosters have a mission to help support our students in their performance opportunities that include travel, and we will continue to offer student fundraisers beginning in the fall. 

Attention Parents and Guardians: if you are interested in chaperoning the NYC trip, we will be looking for up to four parents to join us in New York City.  Please contact Orchestra Parent Representative, Sylvia Schweinberger, if you are interested. 
 
Band News
Mark Your Calendars for 2017 - 2018

The Ballard Bands have some exciting activities planned for the 2017-2018 school year.  Parents and guardians, please mark your calendars now. The appropriate paperwork and payment information was sent home with your musician last week and is also available online - see links below:

Band Camp at Camp Seymour 
This is a REQUIRED activity for all members of the Ballard Marching Band. Held the first weekend after school resumes, Sept 8-10, the $165 payment and paperwork are due July 1, 2017!  See Payment Details in the Fall Camps Section above.  If you need partial financial assistance, please complete the scholarship form and return it by June 30, 2017.
 
If you would like to chaperone at no cost, please contact Band Rep Jen Witeck. With over 160 students in the marching band on this overnight excursion, we need 8 female and 8 male volunteers.

Con Brio Music Festival - Whistler B.C. - Paperwork Due Now
The Wind Ensemble will travel to beautiful British Columbia to participate in the Con Brio Music Festival April 19-22, 2018!  While the final cost is still to be determined, we anticipate a cost of approximately $500 per student.  The package includes round-trip bus transportation, three nights lodging, hot breakfasts, group dinners, a student welcome reception, a ride on a cable car, scavenger hunt, and of course, the music festival workshops and performances.  

Registration and Fees Due July 1, 2017!

With over 4,000 musicians in attendance, the registration form and initial deposit of $150 are due on July 1, 2017 in order to secure our lodging preference and restaurant reservations.  Payments may be paid via cash, check or online via credit card for a small additional processing fee. Again, please complete a scholarship form if you are in need of partial financial assistance. Registration and/or check should be mailed to BPA, PO Box 17774, Seattle, WA  98127
 
Parents and guardians, if you would like to chaperone, the anticipated cost is $425 with an initial $150 deposit due on July 1, 2017.  We need 4 female and 4 male chaperones. Please contact Band Rep Jen Witeck if you would like to volunteer or have any questions about the trip.  

Husky Band Day
Let's Go Band!  We are excited to once again participate in the Husky Band Day on September 16th.  Stay tuned for more details on this event as the date approaches!  We also need 10-12 chaperones to volunteer. Please contact Band Rep  Jen Witeck. Thank you!

WMEA Conference  "Concert Hour" Performance
The Wind Ensemble's invitation to perform at the WMEA Conference in Yakima on February 16, 2018 is truly an honor.  Selected based upon a submission of their April 2017 Carnegie Hall concert, The Wind Ensemble will entertain music directors and educators from around the state during the coveted "Concert Hour" time slot.  More details will to follow in the fall, including information on an overnight stay the evening prior to the performance.  

The Inside Story    
Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall 
April 2017

Michael James, Director of Bands, Talks About His Musicians' Amazing Carnegie Hall Experience in a conversation with Gary Haarsager, BHS Wind Ensemble parent.

In 2016, the Ballard Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the New York International Music Festival at Carnegie Hall. "What were your thoughts then on the music your musicians might play?"

To find out the answer to this question and to read this interview in its' entirety visit the  Ballard Performing Arts Website or the BHS Website to read and also view the Pre-Carnegie Hall performance!

VoilĂ !   
All BPA Board Positions Filled!

Thank you to the awesome crew who signed on for next year including our two newest members: Eric Souza and Leanne Kerrigan. The 2017 - 2018 BPA Board looks foward to meeting all BPA families in September at the first BPA Meeting of the year - Tuesday, September 12 @ 7:30 PM in the BHS Library.

VP Communications:  Eric Souza
Spotlight Gala Co-Chair:  Leanne Kerrigan

Dinner of Champions
August 27th at the Newscastle Golf Club

BPA is providing desserts for the Dessert Dash at the Dinner of Champions on August 27th.
 
We're planning now for the 6th Annual Dinner of Champions on Sunday, August 27 followed by the 17th Annual Ballard Foundation Golf Classic on Monday, Aug 28. Both events are presented by The Ballard High School Foundation. The money raised at these events over the past 16 years has already provided over $1,000,000 to our Ballard High School Sports and Performing Arts Programs.
 
Ballard Performing Arts is participating by donating 40 desserts for the Dessert Dash portion of the Dinner of Champions, August 27 at 4:00 pm at The Golf Club at Newcastle.This is an easy way for BPA to participate in this exciting "fun" raiser. Drop off your dessert or arrange pick up in NW Seattle and it will be delivered to Newcastle for you!  Please consider helping support this fundraiser. Mark your calendars and sign up!  As of today, June 27th, there is one dessert donation slot filled and 39 to go. We know you're dying to be #2!  Sign Up today!


Seachordsmen Summer Show
World in Harmony  - Saturday, July 1st 

The Seachordsmen (proud sponsor of Ballad Performing Arts) invite all BPA friends and families to the Seattle SeaChordsmen's Summer Show, World in Harmony - a celebration of the 1962 World's Fair, featuring our own Meg  Shepherd!  

Saturday July 1st at 2 PM and 7 PM
Shorewood Performing Arts Center
17300 Fremont Ave. N.
SeattleWA 98133

Tickets available now at Brown Paper Tickets


Upcoming Events

Sat 7/1 Fall Band, Choir and Orchestra Camp paperwork and fees due
Sat 7/1 
Wind Ensemble Con Brio Festival registration and  paperwork due
Sat 7/1  Orchestra NYC Carnegie Hall Deposit Due